Folding table



W. J. LONG FOLDING TABLE March 14, 1967 2 Sheets$heet 1 Filed July 29, 1965 WILLIAM J. LONG INVENTOR.

GENT March 14,1967 w. J. LONG 3,308,773

FOLDING TABLE Filed July 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WILL/4M J. LONG INVENTOR.

AGENT United States Patent 3,308,773 FOLDING TABLE William J. Long, Los Angeles, Calif, assignor of fifteen one-hundredths each to Roger A. Marrs, Van Nuys, and Lowell 0. Tucker, South Gate, Calif.

Filed July 29, 1965, Ser. No. 475,785 1 Claim. (Cl. 10879) This invention relates to folding tables and more particularly to a folding table having improved rigidity and stability features as well as being adapted to accommodate the folding of a table top having 'a relatively large surface area.

The folding table of the present invention has many useful applications relating to trailers, campers, mobile homes or in any situation where floor space is at a premium. The table construction permits the .table to be placed, partially folded, in a corner for decorative purposes when not in use in its full length or unfolded configuration. Furthermore, when both leaves of the table are folded the package is very narrow in width and may easily be stored against a wall or slid under a desk or bed. When unfolded and fully extended, the table top surface may easily be ten feet long and four feet wide. The rigidity'of the table and its ability to carry weight are achieved through a novel construction whereby a support member is extended diagonally from one corner of the table to its opposite corner so that primary support is achieved through the entire length of the table top from one end thereof to its opposite end.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a portable folding table which when partially folded will serve as a decorative or utility corner table.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel folding table which is of rigidized construction and represents greatly improved stability characteristics over tables of the prior art.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a table having folding leaves thereof which fold on a diagonal hinge axis extending from one end of the table to its opposite end whereby a foldable table top having a greater surface area can be accommodated than folding tables of the prior art having a transverse hinge axis about which the leaves fold.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel folding table wherein the major support member is disposed diagonally across the full length of the table top from one corner to another and wherein the support member is of one piece construction having its opposite ends serving as leg supports for the folding table top.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a compact and portable folding table which lends itself to tubular construction and yet provides improved stability characteristics.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the folding table incorporating the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the foldingtable of FIGURE 1 illustrating the table partially folded so as to fit into the corner of a room;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the folding table of FIGURE 1 shown in its fully folded condition for storage or carrying purposes;

3,308,773 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 FIGURE 4 is a perspective View of the folding table of FIGURE 1 illustrating the various parts thereof taken from underneath the table;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom elevational View of the table shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom elevational view of the table shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the table illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the hinge connection coupling a portion of the table leg to the central table support;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged elevational view of the hinge connection taken in the direction of arrows 9-9 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged elevational view of the attachment means for joining one end of the table brace to a leg member; and

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view, partially in section, of another embodiment of the present invention illustnating a table employing tubular construction.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, a folding table incorporating the present invention is shown in the general direction of arrow 10 which, in general, comprises a pair of identical leg members 11 and 12 disposed on opposite ends of the table for supporting a table top which includes leaf sections 13 and 14 separated by a diagonally disposed central section 15. It is to be noted that each leg member 11 and 12 includes a pair of legs 16 and I17 and that each leg is disposed beneath a table top corner to support the table top. Furthermore, each leg member includes a pair of horizontal supports 18 and 20 which have their opposite ends joined to the legs associated with each member and a top support 21 and 22 which is connected on its opposite ends between the legs 16 and 17 beneath the opposite ends of the table top.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the table 10 is further provided with a primary support member 23 which is suitably secured to the underside of the central table top section 15 so that the primary support 23 extends the full length of the table diagononally between leg 16 associated with leg member 12 and leg 17 associated with leg member 11. FIGURE 4 also shows several hinges 24 rotatably connecting table top section 14 to one edge of the central section 15. Similar hinges are also provided on the other side of the support member 23 so as to provide a hingable connection between table top section 13 and the other edge of central section 15 opposite to its edge hingably coupled to table top section 14.

The support member 23 carries a reinforcing member such as member 25, on opposite sides of the support member. Each reinforcing member 25 extends from one end of the support member to a termination point about the mid-section of the support member so that the remaining length of the support member on each side may serve as a receptacle or receiver in which to receive a leg member when the leg member is folded. From the view shown in FIGURE 4, support member 25 terminates short of the center-most hinge 24 so that when leg member 12 is rotated on a hinge 26, leg member 12 will nest against the support member 23 so that leg 17 will be flush against the reinforcing member 25. Inasmuch as the diagonal hinge axis about which the top section 14 rotates with respect to central section 15 lies beyond the outer dimension of the support member and the reinforcing member, top section 14 may be rotated downwardly on the hinges 24 when the leg member 12 is in its folded position abutting the side of the support member 23.

To provide additional stability for the table when in its unfolded condition, a pair of braces, such as brace 27, are provided which extend between the underside of tion between the leg member 11 and the support member.

23 by means of the hinge 26. It is to be noted that the upper portion of leg 17 is notched or formed as represented by numeral 30 so as to properly accommodate the folding of the leg member 11' with respect to the support member 23.

With reference to FIGURE 5, it is noted that the leg members 11 and 12 are pivoted outwardly from support member 23 so that the top edge of each leg member rests in a slot provided in a catch member 31 so that the leg members will be prevented from inadvertently pivoting while the table is in use. Each catch 31 is provided with a tapered cam surface 32 upon which the upper edge portion of each leg member will travel'as the leg member is pivoted until the top edge thereof falls into the slot provided in the catch.

With reference to FIGURES 2 and 6, it is seen that the top section 14 may be pivoted on hinges 24 after the leg member 12 has been rotated into its receiver adjacent support member 23. Consequently the top surface of the table is that of a right triangle having diagonal section 15 representing the hypotenuse thereof. When in this position, the table may be employed as a decorative or utility table easily positioned against the adjoining walls normally forming a corner of a room.

With reference to FIGURE 3, the folding table is shown as having both leg members 11 and 12 pivoted on hinges 26 and pivot connections 28 so that the leg members are disposed within the receiver'spaces adjacent the opposite sides of the support member 23. After the leg members have been removed from beneath the table top sections 13 and 14, the sections may be pivoted on hinges 24 so that both table top sections lie in parallel plane adjacent the central section 15. Inasmuch as the opposite ends of the table top sections swing inwardly, it is to be noted that a table top having a substantially larger surface 'area than a table top ordinarily employed having a transverse leaf hinge axis can be accommodated, Furthermore, as shown in FIGURE 9, once the leg members are pivoted inwardly to their non-table top supporting position and the table top sections are pivoted downwardly, a relatively narrow and compact arrangement of table components is effected.

Referring now to FIGURE 11, another embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein the table top is identical to the section 13, 14 and 15 as shown in the embodiment of FIGURE 1, but illustrating the leg .rnem bers and support member as being of tubular construction. Leg members 33 and 34 are provided, each of which is a single section of tubing that is bent to form a pair of parallel legs extending at a right angle from the opposite ends of a leaf support 35. Central section 15 is provided with a central support similarly constructed of tubular material which includes a one-piece tubebent about a central support section 36- to provide a pair of downwardly extending legs 37 and 38. The legs 37 and 38 are hingably connected to the legs, 33 and 34 by means of suitable hinges 40 so that the leg members 33 and 34 may be rotated inwardly against the central support section 36 when the table is in its folded condition or outwardly as illustrated in FIGURE 11 to support the leaf section 13 and 14 when the table is unfolded.

A feature of the present invention is shown which resides in the provision of the table leg members being of telescoping tubular construction whereby leg sections, such as leg section 41, may be slidably extendable from the ends of the tubular construction to permit height adjustment of the table top with respect to the floor supporting the table. Once the telescoping section 41 has been properlyadjusted on each of the leg members or sections, suitable pin .or detent means 42 or the like may be engaged between the telescoping portion 41 and the leg member construction so that for all effective purposes, the telescoping section 41 becomes a fixed part of the leg construction.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described,.it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and'scope of this invention.

I claim:

A folding table comprising:

a substantially U shaped tubular supporting member formed to provide stationary leg supports on its 0pposite ends joined by an elongated mid-section length;

a central top section mounted on said supporting member mid-section length;

a pair of substantially triangular top leaf sections pivotally. attached to opposite sides of said central top section so as to provide parallel pivot axes diagonally across the table disposed between opposite corners thereof;

hinge means rotatably securing said pair of leaf sections to opposite edge marginal regions of said central top section whereby said parallel diagonally extending pivot axes are provided;

a pair of U shaped tubular leg members, each formed to provide a pair of parallel legs joined by a midsection length; and

pivot means movably securing one leg of each of said leg members to one of said leg supports whereby the other leg of each of said leg members may be moved outwardly from a stored position adjacent said supporting member mid-section length to an extended position substantially normal to said supporting member to selectively support said top leaf sections when said sections are pivoted outwardly about said diagonal pivot axis to provide a composite table top and wherein the opposite ends of said table top are supported on said pair of leg members via said leg member mid-section lengths.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D.132,907 6/ 1942 Fitzpatrick 10-8-79 392,407 11/ 1888 Chorman 108---79 489,369 1/ 1893 Case 108124 553,721 1/1896 Piaget 108-79 2,844,257 7/1958 Friedman 108-112 2,887,348 5/1959 Sadowsky 108-424 2,902,325 9/ 1959 Knoblock et al 248-167 3,029,114 4/ 1962 Sanchez 108-7 9 FOREIGN PATENTS 742,127 12/ 1932 France. 1,262,364 4/ 1961 France.

668,398 12/ 1938 Germany.

1 1,060 1 1 896 Switzerland.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Examiner. 

